Navigation

Home

Mission Statement

Recovery Projects

Library

Contact

Objective

Children of elementary through high school grade levels represent one of the most important target audiences of the Architectural Arts Center. They are the future of their communities – the people who in years ahead will make the decisions that shape public policy and the urban landscape. The unique collections offered at the Arts Center can provide experiences that will stimulate young people's interest in architecture, broaden their education, and help them to understand, appreciate, and eventually positively impact the built environment around them.

On-Site and Outreach Program Overview

The Architectural Arts Center will draw upon and expand successful programs developed for students by institutions such as the National Building Museum, Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the National Register of Historic Places, all of which in various ways complement established school curricula and standards in math, science, language arts, social studies, fine arts, and other areas of study.

In addition, the exceptional resources offered at NAAC will provide students with an opportunity to examine and handle real building artifacts; to investigate the source and composition of materials; to learn how raw materials are transformed into units of construction; and observe techniques of caring for and preserving buildings through restoration and conservation work.

Types of Activities

• Family Programs and Workshops
• Teacher Training: Understanding the Collection and Conservation
• Children Tours of the Facility and Exhibitions
• Classes, serial or single, such as:
  • Getting To Know: Ethnic Groups That Built St. Louis and the Region
  • Getting To Know: Great Architects of the Midwest
  • Getting To Know: 101 Careers in Architecture and Building
  • Getting To Know: Materials and Methods of Construction
  • Getting To Know: What Style Is It?
• Web-Site with interactive topics for children and parents
• Guided Tours of School Neighborhoods

Building Space Requirements

The types of spaces needed for the program of activities offered by NAAC could efficiently accommodate all grade levels since the basic types of activities and curricula offered would be similar for all age groups; the interdisciplinary umbrella program would be flexible and adaptable to different grade and ability levels, varying principally in the intensity or depth of presentation.

Types of Spaces

1. Auditorium with audio-visual equipment; seating capacity sufficient to accommodate projected adult audiences.

2. Classrooms or conference rooms for small groups with audio-visual, blackboard, etc.

3. "Show & Tell" – "Touch & Feel" rooms with appropriate tables for examining materials, tools, etc.

4. Process/Production Room with kiln and other equipment for live demonstrations.

5. Toilet/Lavatory facility and coatroom designed for smaller children.

Back to the Policy and Programming Report